Emergency Alert a Test According to Verizon

Police have confirmed that a text message alert sent to some area Verizon mobile devices warning of an impending civil defense emergency was untrue.

Verizon released a statement to News 12 New Jersey, "Around noon this afternoon a test emergency notification text message was sent to customers in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties in New Jersey. This test message was not clearly identified as a test. We apologize for any inconvenience or concern this message may have caused."

Verizon also said it is unsure how many customers the message reached.

issued a text alert of their own dispelling the phony text. Fair Haven Borogh also sent out a e-mail from the that said, "A mass text message has been sent out to multiple Verizon wireless customers from an unknown source indicating that there is an emergency and that people should seek shelter. There is no state of emergency at this time and the incident is currently under investigation by the New Jersey State Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office."

The New Jersey State Police alerted local police departments that a text message informing residents to take immediate shelter until the relatively random time of 1:24 p.m. went out to some mobile subscribers at around noon.

Police quickly confirmed that there was no emergency.

To stay up to date with all of Rumson’s emergency alerts, sign up for the service at the borough website by clicking here. To sign up for Fair Haven's alert system, click here.